Halona Blowhole (Oahu, Hawaii)
Posted by: 
Raven
N 21° 16.942 W 157° 40.602
4Q E 637277 N 2353973
The Halona Blowhole is an shore based ocean geyser formed by an ancient molten lava tube, spouting water up to 30 feet high into the air.
Waymark Code: WMVQ9Q
Location: Hawaii, United States
Date Posted: 05/17/2017
Views: 3
The Halona Blowhole is a popular scenic spot on Oahu's southeastern shore right on State Hwy 72 near Hanauma Bay, about 10-15 minutes from Honolulu.
The blowhole is technically an ocean geyser which was formed by a molten lava tube from volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago. The geyser is created when breaking surf entering the lava tube is compressed as the tube becomes narrower and narrower, causing the pressure to increase and forcing a stream of water to shoot up -- sometimes as high as 30 feet into the air. Basically, the larger the waves, the larger (and thicker) the spray.
A word of caution: people sometimes attempt to hike down to the blowhole to get closer to it, but the area is dangerous and a some have died trying to either approach it, sit on the blowhole itself, or holding parts of their bodies into the stream of water. The sea cliffs are steep, slippery and sharp: it is best to stay at the provided waymark coordinates and enjoy the views from a safe distance.
The only known person known to have survived a trip through the blowhole itself was a young local soldier: the water sucked him down into the hole and into a cavern 8 feet below the surface, after which subsequent wave actions pushed him out through another lava tube into the ocean... with only minor bruises.
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